“A new teaching with authority”

 

4^th Sunday OT B (Mark 1:21-28)

I.Today’s Gospel speaks of the teaching authority of Jesus.  Those who are listening to him, sense  immediately, that he is different from the scribes. The scribes are the teachers of the law.

-                      The scribes would trace their teaching authority to the famous rabbis from whom they learned the law and the prophets.  But Jesus on the other hand, does not resort to anyone else, but himself. He did not quote from other rabbis or masters as was the custom of many teachers at that time.

-                      He spoke as one who knew what he was talking about.

-                      He has not only the authority, but the power as well.  Pinatunayan nya  ang kanyang authority sa pamamagitan ng kanyang spiritual powers -  pagpapalayas ng evil spirit sa taong na possessed.

-                       His words and actions go together – pinatutunayan ng gawa ang kanyang salita – hindi naghihiwalay ang gawa at salita.

-                      And the Church shares in the teaching authority of Jesus – nakikibahagi at binigyan ng karapatan na magturo.  Through the Church Christ speaks to us – sa pamamagitan ng Simbahan, si Hesus ay nagsasalita sa atin.

II.At dito sa Gospel, kung inyo pong napansin, the evil spirit declared Jesus as the Son of God, the Holy One of God, this was actually a profession of faith -  pagpapahayag ng pananampalataya, though it come from the evil side.

-                      Mabuti pa ang demonyo nakikilala ni Hesus, samantala ang mga tao, nasa harap  na nila, hindi pa nila nakikilala.

-                      At ang tanong ngayon,  why did the Lord stop the evil spirit from professing that he was the Son of God, the Holy One of God?  Bakit nya pinipigilan ang pagpapahayag ng demonyo.

-                      Jesus was not denying the fact that he is the Son of God. It was only because he did not like to be identified by people, merely as a miracle worker.  Alam ni Hesus, kapag kumalat ang balita, na gumagawa sya ng milagro, his real mission would be forgotten.

-                      His real mission is to convert sinners -  to challenge people to conversion.  He is not simply a miracle worker, but he is here to convert people.

III.And that is also the mission of the Church.  The Church is not an institution -  that only provides Catholic education -  that only protects human rights.  The Church is not simply an institution that heals the sick - di lamang nagbibigay ng edukasyon, nagtatangol sa karapatang pantao o nagpapagaling ng maysakit.

-                      The mission of the Church is to convert people while healing them.

-                      The mission of the Church, is to convert people while educating them.

-                      At tayo, as members of the Church share in the mission also.  To change the hearts of people and to challenge them to repentance.

-                      At mission po natin ay di lamang paglalagay ng offering sa collection basket.

-                      Our mission is to remind people of the Goodness of God.  Na dumating para sa atin.